Warley to Play for Team USA in Pan Am Games

Avery Warley will play for Team USA at the Pan American Games in Guadalajara, Mexico, Oct. 21-25.

For about two weeks, redshirt senior center Avery Warley will trade in her red, white and blue Liberty uniform for a red, white and blue Team USA jersey. She has been selected to the 2011 USA Basketball Pan American Games Team, which will compete Oct. 21-25 in Guadalajara, Mexico.

Warley will join 10 other college student-athletes and one high school senior in an attempt to help Team USA defend its 2007 Pan American Games gold medal. The team will be coached by Ceal Barry, assisted by Jennifer Gillom and Debbie Ryan.

"Avery has received a dream opportunity to play on the highest international stage," stated Liberty head coach Carey Green. "Every athlete aspires to represent their country in Olympic competition. Avery, as well as our university, team and coaching staff are elated for this challenging and exciting opportunity to represent the USA in the Pan Am Games. Who wouldn't want to fulfill the dream of earning a gold medal for the USA?

"This opportunity is a great indication of the respect that both Avery & our program have earned as Liberty builds ‘Champions for Christ' at the highest level," Green continued. "This opportunity for Avery also highlights the success of the entire Liberty family in administrating the development of the student-athlete to achieve at the highest level for God's glory."

Warley becomes the third Liberty player to gain USA Basketball experience. Megan Frazee, a 2009 graduate, participated in the USA Basketball Women's National Team Trials in 2007. Additionally, 2005 graduate Katie (Feenstra) Mattera was a part of the 2007-08 USA Basketball Women's National Team roster. Mattera played for the silver medal-winning USA Select team in the FIBA World League Tournament in 2007.

Warley enjoyed a stellar 2010-11 season, garnering numerous awards. She was the Big South Defensive Player of the Year, as well as a first team All-Big South and VaSID All-State honoree.

The Washington, D.C., native averaged a double-double (12.0 ppg, 11.0 rpg), while leading the Big South in both field goal percentage (.620) and double-doubles (19). She tied for ninth in the nation for double-doubles and ranked No. 14 nationally in rebounds.

Warley totaled 363 rebounds on the year, breaking the Liberty and Big South Conference single-season rebounding marks. She pulled down 48 boards in three games at the Big South Championship, setting a new record for most rebounds in a single tournament. Warley will begin her final season as a Lady Flame ranked fourth in program history for career rebounds (901) and 13th for career points (1,027).

The U.S. squad will open training camp on Oct. 15 with an evening practice in Houston, Texas, followed by two practices on Oct. 16 and 17, and a morning session on Oct. 18. The team will depart for Guadalajara and the 2011 Pan American Games on Oct. 18, and will have a practice on Oct. 19 and 20 before the competition starts on Oct. 21.

The draw for the 2011 Pan American Games women's basketball competition took place on June 27, and the U.S. women will play in preliminary round Group A, along with Argentina, Mexico and Puerto Rico; while Brazil, Canada, Colombia and Jamaica comprise Group B. Preliminary round play for the women's basketball competition runs Oct. 21, 22 and 23, with the semifinals on Oct. 24, and the finals on Oct. 25.

The Pan American Games are a multi-sport competition held every four years (2011, 2015, etc.) in the year preceding the Olympics. Organized by the Pan American Sports Organization (PASO), the Games are open to men and women representing countries from North, South and Central America and the Caribbean.

Overall, the USA women in Pan American Games competitions have won seven of 14 gold medals, as well as four silver and two bronze medals, compiling a 72-12 overall record.

About USA Basketball Based in Colorado Springs, Colo., USA Basketball is a nonprofit organization and the national governing body for men's and women's basketball in the United States. As the recognized governing body for basketball in the United States by the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) and the United States Olympic Committee (USOC), USA Basketball is responsible for the selection, training and fielding of USA teams that compete in FIBA sponsored international basketball competitions, as well as for some national competitions.

Since 2008, USA Basketball men's and women's teams have compiled a sterling 134-6 win-loss record in FIBA or FIBA Americas competitions. USA teams are the current men's and women's champions of the Olympics and the FIBA World Championships; FIBA women's U19 world champions; the men's and women's title holders for the FIBA U17 World Championships; and the men's and women's U18 and U16 FIBA Americas champions. USA Basketball currently ranks No. 1 in all five of FIBA's world ranking categories, including combined, men's, women's, boys and girls.